Power switch control circuit and open detection method thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a power switch control circuit and an open detection method thereof. The power switch control circuit is for generating an operation signal at an operation signal output pin according to an input signal, wherein the operation signal is for operating a power switch. The power switch control circuit includes: a current injection circuit, which is connected to the operation signal output pin, and provides a predetermined current to the operation signal output pin according to an enable signal; and an open detection circuit, which is coupled to the current injection circuit, and determines whether a connection between the operation signal output pin and the power switch is open according to a level of the operation signal output pin at a detection time point or according to a level variation of the operation signal output pin during a detection time period, whereby an open detection signal is generated.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present invention claims priority to CN 201611011896.9, filed onNov. 17, 2016.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a power switch control circuit and anopen detection method thereof; particularly, it relates to such a powerswitch control circuit which detects whether an open condition occursbetween an operation signal output pin and a power switch, and an opendetection method thereof.

Description of Related Art

FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of a conventional switching regulator100A which is an isolated power supply circuit with a transformer. Asshown in FIG. 1, a rectifier circuit 101 rectifies an alternatingcurrent (AC) voltage Vac to generate an input voltage Vin. The rectifiercircuit 101 is for example a bridge rectifier circuit. A primary windingW1 of a transformer 102 of the switching regulator 100A receives theinput voltage Vin. A power switch SW1 controls a conduction time of theprimary winding W1, whereby the input voltage Vin is converted to anoutput voltage Vout generated at a secondary winding W2 of thetransformer 102. The switching regulator 100A includes theaforementioned transformer 102, the power switch SW1, a power switchcontrol circuit 103, an opto-coupler circuit 104, a current sensecircuit 105, and a second side control circuit 107. The power switch SW1is controlled by the power switch control circuit 103. The power switchcontrol circuit 103 obtains a feedback voltage signal COMP related tothe output voltage Vout from the opto-coupler circuit 104, and obtains acurrent sense signal CS related to a current flowing through the powerswitch SW1 from the current sense circuit 105, and by feedback control,the power switch control circuit 103 generates an input signal which istypically a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. (“Input signal” is fromthe perspective of the output buffer stage.) The power switch controlcircuit 103 generates an operation signal GATE at an operation signaloutput pin according to the PWM signal (thus, the operation signal is aPWM signal having a waveform corresponding to the input signal buthaving adjusted voltage levels), to control the power switch SW1. Thesecondary side control circuit 107 controls the opto-coupler circuit 104to generate the feedback voltage signal COMP according to a dividedvoltage of the output voltage Vout.

Referring to FIG. 1B, in a switching regulator 100B, asynchronousrectification (SR) switch SW2 replaces the diode of the switchingregulator 100A at the secondary side, whereby the voltage drop acrossthe diode is removed to increase power conversion efficiency. A powerswitch control circuit 106 at the secondary side controls the SR switchSW2 through an operation signal output pin, such that when the primarywinding W1 is not conductive, the SR switch SW2 is conductive, and thesecondary winding W2 releases power, to convert the input voltage Vin tothe output voltage Vout.

In the switching regulator 100B shown in FIG. 1B, an open condition mayoccur between the SR switch SW2 and the operation signal output pin ofthe power switch control circuit 106 for a certain reason, such that thepower switch control circuit 106 cannot control the SR switch SW2correctly. However, because the SR switch SW2 includes a parasiticdiode, when the SR switch SW2 is turned OFF, the secondary side stillforms a conductive circuit loop through the parasitic diode. Thus, eventhough the power switch control circuit 106 does not control the SRswitch SW2 correctly, it cannot be detected because the circuit loop atthe secondary side is still conductive. This problem may cause theswitching regulator 100B to operate incorrectly, lowering the powerconversion efficiency, or worse, damaging the switching regulator 100Band leading to a hazardous condition.

In view of the above, the present invention proposes a power switchcontrol circuit and an open detection method thereof, which can detectthe open condition between the operation signal output pin and the powerswitch, so as to increase the power conversion efficiency and to ensuresafety. The present invention can be applied not only to the secondaryside but also to the primary side of the transformer in an isolatedpower supply circuit. The present invention also can be applied to othertype of switching regulators, to detect whether there is an open circuitbetween a power switch and its control circuit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From one perspective, the present invention provides a power switchcontrol circuit, configured to operably generate an operation signal atan operation signal output pin therein according to an input signal, soas to control a power switch, the power switch control circuitcomprising: a current injection circuit, which is connected to theoperation signal output pin, and is configured to operably provide apredetermined current to the operation signal output pin according to anenable signal; and an open detection circuit, which is coupled to thecurrent injection circuit, and is configured to operably determinewhether a connection between the operation signal output pin and thepower switch is open according to a level of the operation signal outputpin at a detection time point or during a detection time period, oraccording to a level variation of the operation signal output pin duringa detection time period, and to generate an open detection signalaccordingly.

In one preferable embodiment, the power switch control further comprisesan inrush current protection circuit, which is coupled to the operationsignal output pin, and is configured to operably clamp a level of theoperation signal output pin when the predetermined current is providedto the operation signal output pin, such that the level does not exceedan upper limit.

In one preferable embodiment, the input signal is transmitted to theoperation signal output pin through a driver circuit which includes ahalf-bridge circuit, wherein the half-bridge circuit includes: an upperswitch and a lower switch connected at a common node; an upper buffer,which is configured to operably control the upper switch according tothe input signal; and a lower buffer, which is configured to operablycontrol the lower switch according to the input signal, wherein theupper switch and the lower switch are transistors with oppositeconductive types, or are transistors with a same conductive type whereinone and only one of the upper buffer and the lower buffer is an inverterbuffer; wherein the inrush current protection circuit includes: thelower switch; and a switch, which is electrically connected between agate and a current inflow terminal of the lower switch, and iscontrolled by the enable signal; wherein when the enable signal is at anenable state, the lower switch forms a diode clamper circuit.

In one preferable embodiment, the open detection circuit includes: acomparison circuit, which is coupled to the operation signal output pin,and is configured to operably compare the level of the operation signaloutput pin with a reference level, so as to generate a comparison signalindicating whether the connection between the operation signal outputpin and the power switch is open; and a latch circuit, which is coupledto the comparison circuit, and is configured to operably latch thecomparison signal to generate the open detection signal.

In one preferable embodiment, the open detection circuit determineswhether a connection between the operation signal output pin and thepower switch is open and generates the open detection signal accordingto the level of the operation signal output pin at the detection timepoint, a highest level of the operation signal output pin during thedetection time period, the level variation of the operation signaloutput pin during the detection time period, or a time length for thelevel of the operation signal output pin to achieve a predeterminedlevel.

In one preferable embodiment, the operation signal is a PWM signal, andthe operation signal is at a low level at the detection time point orduring the detection time period.

From another perspective, the present invention provides an opendetection method of a power switch control circuit, wherein the powerswitch control circuit is configured to operably generate an operationsignal at an operation signal output pin therein according to an inputsignal to control a power switch, and the open detection method is fordetermining whether a connection between the operation signal output pinand the power switch is open, the open detection method comprising:providing a predetermined current to the operation signal output pinaccording to an enable signal; and determining whether a connectionbetween the operation signal output pin and the power switch is openaccording to a level of the operation signal output pin at a detectiontime point or during a detection time period, or according to a levelvariation of the operation signal output pin during a detection timeperiod, and generating an open detection signal accordingly.

In one preferable embodiment, the open detection method furtherincludes: clamping a level of the operation signal output pin when thepredetermined current is provided to the operation signal output pin,such that the level does not exceed an upper limit.

In one preferable embodiment, the step of determining whether theconnection between the operation signal output pin and the power switchis open and generating the open detection signal accordingly, includes:comparing the level of the operation signal output pin with a referencelevel, to generate a comparison signal, for determining whether theconnection between the operation signal output pin and the power switchis open; and latching the comparison signal to generate the opendetection signal.

In one preferable embodiment, the step of determining whether theconnection between the operation signal output pin and the power switchis open to generate the open detection signal, further includes:determining whether the connection between the operation signal outputpin and the power switch is open and generating the open detectionsignal according to the level of the operation signal output pin at thedetection time point, a highest level of the operation signal output pinduring the detection time period, the level variation of the operationsignal output pin during the detection time period, or a time length forthe level of the operation signal output pin to achieve a predeterminedlevel.

In one preferable embodiment, the operation signal is a PWM signal, andthe operation signal is at a low level at the detection time point orduring the detection time period.

The objectives, technical details, features, and effects of the presentinvention will be better understood with regard to the detaileddescription of the embodiments below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of a conventional switching regulator100A.

FIG. 1B shows another schematic diagram of a conventional switchingregulator 100B.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a power switch control circuit 203according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the power switch control circuit 203according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a more specific embodiment of the power switch controlcircuit 203 according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of signal waveforms of a pulse widthmodulation (PWM) signal PWM, a tri-state control signal Tri-state, adetection trigger signal Sample, an operation signal GATE, and an opendetection signal Fault according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of signal waveforms of the operationsignal GATE in different conditions according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The drawings as referred to throughout the description of the presentinvention are for illustration only, to show the interrelations betweenthe circuits and the signal waveforms, but not drawn according to actualscale.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a power switch control circuit 203 of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the power switch control circuit203 generates an operation signal GATE at an operation signal output pinPN therein according to an input signal, to control a power switch SW3.The power switch control circuit 203 includes a current injectioncircuit 2031 and an open detection circuit 2033. The power switchcontrol circuit 203 may be applied in for example but not limited to thepower switch control circuit 103 and/or 106. The power switch SW3 is forexample but not limited to a power switch at the primary side of theisolated power supply circuit (such as the power switch SW1 of theswitching regulator 100A in FIG. 1A), a synchronous rectifier switch atthe secondary side (such as the SR switch SW2 of the switching regulator100B in FIG. 1B), or a power switch of a switching regulator in anyother form (such as a synchronous or asynchronous buck, boost,inverting, buck-boost, or inverting-boost power converter).

In this embodiment, the current injection circuit 2031 is connected tothe operation signal output pin PN, and provides a predetermined currentIp to the operation signal output pin PN according to an enable signalEnable. The current injection circuit 2031 is for example but notlimited to a current source circuit. When the enable signal Enableenables the current source circuit, the current source circuit providesthe predetermined current Ip to the operation signal output pin PN. Inanother embodiment, the current injection circuit 2031 may include acurrent source circuit and a switch connected in series, and when theenable signal Enable turns ON the switch, the current source circuitprovides the predetermined current Ip to the operation signal output pinPN. The open detection circuit 2033 is coupled to the current injectioncircuit 2031. The open detection circuit 2033 determines whether aconnection between the operation signal output pin PN and the powerswitch SW3 is open according to a level of the operation signal outputpin PN at a detection time point or during a detection time period, oraccording to a level variation of the operation signal output pin PN ata detection time point or during a detection time period, to generate anopen detection signal Fault.

When the operation signal output pin PN and the power switch SW3 isproperly connected, charges provided by the predetermined current Ipwill be slowly accumulated in a parasitic capacitor between the gate andthe source of the power switch SW3. On the other hand, when theconnection between the operation signal output pin PN and the powerswitch SW3 is open, charges provided by the predetermined current Ipwill be rapidly accumulated at the operation signal output pin PNbecause the parasitic capacitor of the power switch SW3 is disconnected.Thus, whether the connection between the operation signal output pin PNand the power switch SW3 is open can be determined by sensing the levelof the operation signal output pin PN, and an open detection signalFault can be generated accordingly. Note that, during normal operation,the operation signal output pin PN is used for outputting the operationsignal GATE to control the power switch SW3, and therefore, thedetection time point or the detection time period for providing thepredetermined current Ip and determining whether the connection betweenthe operation signal output pin PN and the power switch SW3 is open ispreferably at a time point or during a time period when the operationsignal GATE turns OFF the power switch SW3, so as not to impact thenormal operation. The operation will be described in detail later withreference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the power switch control circuit 203according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the power switchcontrol circuit 203 generates the operation signal GATE at the operationsignal output pin PN therein according to the input signal, to controlthe power switch SW3. The power switch control circuit 203 includes thecurrent injection circuit 2031, the open detection circuit 2033, and aninrush current protection circuit 2035. In this embodiment, the currentinjection circuit 2031 is connected to the operation signal output pinPN, and provides the predetermined current Ip to the operation signaloutput pin PN according to the enable signal Enable. The currentinjection circuit 2031 is for example but not limited to a currentsource circuit. When the enable signal Enable enables the current sourcecircuit, the current source circuit provides the predetermined currentIp to the operation signal output pin PN. In another embodiment, thecurrent injection circuit 2031 may include a current source circuit anda switch connected in series, and when the enable signal Enable turns ONthe switch, the current source circuit provides the predeterminedcurrent Ip to the operation signal output pin PN. The open detectioncircuit 2033 is coupled to the current injection circuit 2031. The opendetection circuit 2033 determines whether a connection between theoperation signal output pin PN and the power switch SW3 is openaccording to a level of the operation signal output pin PN at adetection time point or during a detection time period, or according toa level variation of the operation signal output pin PN during adetection time period, to generate an open detection signal Fault. Thedifference between this embodiment and the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 isthat, in this embodiment, the power switch control circuit 203 furtherincludes the inrush current protection circuit 2035, which is coupled tothe operation signal output pin PN, for clamping a level of theoperation signal output pin PN when the predetermined current Ip isprovided to the operation signal output pin PN, such that the level doesnot exceed an upper limit. The inrush current protection circuit 2035prevents the power switch SW3 from being erroneously turned ON by thehigh level at the operation signal output pin PN, when the operationsignal output pin PN is connected to the power switch SW3 normally andthe predetermined current Ip is provided to the operation signal outputpin PN. The inrush current protection circuit 2035 for example can be,but is not limited to a clamper circuit. The clamper circuit may beembodied in various ways as well known by those skilled in this art, andany type of clamper can be used as the inrush current protection circuit2035.

FIG. 4 shows a more specific embodiment of the power switch controlcircuit 203 shown in FIG. 2 according to the present invention. As shownin FIG. 4, the power switch control circuit 203 generates an operationsignal GATE at an operation signal output pin PN therein according to aninput signal, to control a power switch SW3. The input signal is forexample but not limited to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. ThePWM signal is typically used as a control signal of a switchingregulator, as well known by those skilled in the art. The power switchcontrol circuit 203 includes the current injection circuit 2031, theopen detection circuit 2033, and an inrush current protection circuit2035. In this embodiment, the enable signal Enable is for example butnot limited to a tri-state control signal Tri-state, which can control astate of a controlled circuit to be an enable state or a high impedancestate. The current injection circuit 2031 is connected to the operationsignal output pin PN, and provides the predetermined current Ip to theoperation signal output pin PN according to the tri-state signalTri-state. The current injection circuit 2031 is for example but notlimited to a current source circuit. When the tri-state signal Tri-stateenables the current source circuit, the current source circuit providesthe predetermined current Ip to the operation signal output pin PN. Inanother embodiment, the current injection circuit 2031 may include acurrent source circuit and a switch connected in series, and when thetri-state signal Tri-state turns ON the switch, the current sourcecircuit provides the predetermined current Ip to the operation signaloutput pin PN. The open detection circuit 2033 is coupled to the currentinjection circuit 2031. The open detection circuit 2033 determineswhether the connection between the operation signal output pin PN andthe power switch SW3 is open according to a level of the operationsignal output pin PN at a detection time point or during a detectiontime period, or according to a level variation of the operation signaloutput pin PN during a detection time period, to generate an opendetection signal Fault.

Still referring FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the open detection circuit2033 includes: a comparison circuit CA and a latch circuit FF. Thecomparison circuit CA is coupled to the operation signal output pin PN,and it compares the level of the operation signal output pin PN with areference level Vref, to generate a comparison signal Cp indicatingwhether the connection between the operation signal output pin PN andthe power switch SW3 is open. As explained in the above, the detectiontime point or the detection time period for providing the predeterminedcurrent Ip and determining whether the connection between the operationsignal output pin PN and the power switch SW3 is open is preferably atthe time point or during the time period when the operation signal GATEturns OFF the power switch SW3; however, the detection result needs tobe held. Therefore, in this embodiment, the comparison circuit CA iscoupled to the latch circuit FF; the latch circuit FF is for latchingthe comparison signal Cp to generate the open detection signal Fault. Inthis embodiment, the latch circuit FF is for example but not limited toa D-type flip-flop as shown in the figure. The D-type flip-flop has adata pin D for receiving the comparison signal Cp, so as to latch thecomparison signal Cp. A clock pin of the latch circuit FF receives adetection trigger signal Sample, to trigger an open detection timing. Areset pin R receives a reset signal Rst, to reset the open detectionprocedure. The reset signal Rst is for example but not limited to beingsynchronized with the PWM signal. The output pin Q generates the opendetection signal Fault. The D-type flip flop shown in the figure is forillustrative purpose, not for limiting the scope of the presentinvention. The latch circuit FF may be embodied in any form which isable to hold or store the output from the comparison circuit CA. Theoperation mechanism of the flip-flop is well known by those skilled inthe art, so details thereof are omitted here.

Still referring FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the inrush currentprotection circuit 2035 is coupled to the operation signal output pinPN, for clamping a level of the operation signal output pin PN when thepredetermined current Ip is provided to the operation signal output pinPN, such that the level does not exceed an upper limit. The inrushcurrent protection circuit 2035 prevents the power switch SW3 from beingerroneously turned ON by the high level at the operation signal outputpin PN, when the operation signal output pin PN is connected to thepower switch SW3 normally and the predetermined current Ip is providedto the operation signal output pin PN. The inrush current protectioncircuit 2035 for example can be, but is not limited to a clampercircuit.

In one embodiment, as shown in the figure, the inrush current protectioncircuit 2035 includes for example but not limited to a lower switch Q1and a switch SW4, wherein the lower switch Q1 is also a part of ahalf-bridge circuit (to be explained later) in the power switch controlcircuit 203. The switch SW4 is electrically connected between a gate anda current inflow terminal (drain, when the switch SW4 is an NMOStransistor) of the lower switch Q1. The switch SW4 is controlled by thetri-state control signal Tri-state (the enable signal Enable). When thetri-state control signal Tri-state is at the enable state, the switchSW4 is turned ON, and the lower switch Q1 behaves like a diode and formsa diode clamper circuit, guiding the excess charges (which are the causeof the “inrush current”) above the clamped level to flow to the groundlevel GND through the diode clamper circuit. That is, because theforward conduction voltage of a diode is 0.7V, the voltage differencebetween the operation signal output pin PN and the ground level GND islimited to be not higher than 0.7V, which is the aforementioned upperlimit. In addition, the tri-state control signal Tri-state also controlsa buffer BR to be in a high impedance state, such that the inrushcurrent does not flow reversely to the left side (the input side) of thebuffer BR, to protect the other circuits and devices in the power switchcontrol circuit 203.

In the power switch control circuit 203, in order to generate theoperation signal GATE with proper high and low levels so as to becapable of driving the power switch SW3, a driver circuit is included.The driver circuit includes the aforementioned half-bridge circuit. Thehalf-bridge circuit includes: an upper switch and the lower switch Q1coupled to a common node; an upper buffer, which is configured tooperably control the upper switch according to the input signal; and alower buffer, which is configured to operably control the lower switchQ1 according to the input signal, wherein the upper switch and the lowerswitch are transistors with opposite conductive types, or aretransistors with a same conductive type wherein one and only one of theupper buffer and the lower buffer is an inverter buffer.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of signal waveforms of the pulse widthmodulation (PWM) signal PWM, the tri-state control signal Tri-state, thedetection trigger signal Sample, the operation signal GATE, and the opendetection signal Fault according to the present invention. The powerswitch control circuit 203 generates the operation signal GATE accordingto the pulse width modulation signal PWM, to control the power switchSW3. For example, when the pulse width modulation signal PWM is at thehigh level, the power switch control circuit 203 generates the operationsignal GATE at the high level, to turn ON the power switch SW3. Thetri-state control signal Tri-state triggers or stops the open detectionprocedure. As explained in the above, the open detection procedurepreferably does not interfere with the normal operation, and thus theopen detection procedure (including providing the predetermined currentIp and detecting the level of the operation signal output pin PN) ispreferably performed during the time period wherein the operation signalGATE turns OFF the power switch SW3. As shown in FIG. 5, the tri-statecontrol signal Tri-state for example triggers the start of the opendetection procedure by a rising edge thereof at time point t2, and thetri-state control signal Tri-state for example ends the open detectionprocedure by a falling edge thereof at time point t4. In one embodiment,the tri-state control signal Tri-state may be generated according to thepulse width modulation PWM. For example, when the pulse width modulationsignal PWM switches to the low level or after a period of time from whenthe pulse width modulation signal PWM switches to the low level, thetri-state control signal Tri-state changes to the high level, to triggerthe open detection procedure to start; and the when or before the pulsewidth modulation signal PWM switches to the high level, the tri-statecontrol signal Tri-state changes to the low level, to stop the opendetection procedure.

Still referring FIG. 5, the detection trigger signal Sample indicatesthe detection time point or the detection time period. When thetri-state control signal Tri-state triggers the open detection procedureto start, the predetermined current Ip is provided to the operationsignal output pin PN. As explained in the above, when the connectionbetween the operation signal output pin PN and the power switch SW3 isnormal, charges provided by the predetermined current Ip will be slowlyaccumulated in the parasitic capacitor between the gate and the sourceof the power switch SW3, and thus the level of the operation signaloutput pin PN increases slowly, as indicated by a dashed bold line shownin the figure. On the other hand, when the connection between theoperation signal output pin PN and the power switch SW3 is open, chargesprovided by the predetermined current Ip will be rapidly accumulated atthe operation signal output pin PN because the parasitic capacitor ofthe power switch SW3 is disconnected from the operation signal outputpin PN, and thus, the level of the operation signal output pin PNincreases rapidly, as indicated by a solid bold line shown in thefigure. Therefore, after the tri-state control signal Tri-state triggersthe open detection procedure, at a proper detection time point or withina proper detection time period, it can be determined as to whether thelevel of the operation signal output pin PN is too high with referenceto a proper reference level Vref, so as to determine whether theconnection between the operation signal output pin PN and the powerswitch SW3 is open, and to generate the open detection signal Faultaccordingly.

Still referring to FIG. 5, as shown in the figure, when the detectiontrigger signal Sample changes from the low level to the high level attime point t3, a sampling window within the open detection procedurestarts. When the detection trigger signal Sample changes from the highlevel to the low level at time points t1 and t5, the sampling windowwithin open detection procedure ends. In one embodiment, the opendetection circuit 2033 compares the level of the operation signal outputpin PN (i.e., the level of the operation signal GATE) with the referencelevel Vref at the time point t3. At the time point t3, if the level ofthe operation signal output pin PN is higher than the reference levelVref, the connection between the operation signal output pin PN and thepower switch SW3 is determined open. On the other hand, at the timepoint t3, if the level of the operation signal output pin PN is lowerthan the reference level Vref, the connection between the operationsignal output pin PN and the power switch SW3 is determined normal.

In the aforementioned embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the open detectioncircuit 2033 determines whether the connection between the operationsignal output pin PN and the power switch SW3 is open according to thelevel of the operation signal output pin PN (i.e., the level of theoperation signal GATE) at the time point t3. The present invention isnot limited to this embodiment. According to the present invention,there are various ways to determine whether the connection between theoperation signal output pin PN and the power switch SW3 is open. Forexample, in other embodiments, the open detection circuit 2033 candetermine whether the connection between the operation signal output pinPN and the power switch SW3 is open and generates the open detectionsignal Fault according to a highest level of the operation signal outputpin PN during the detection time period, a level variation of theoperation signal output pin PN during the detection time period, or atime length for the level of the operation signal output pin PN toachieve a predetermined level. The detection time period for example canbe, but is not limited to a time period from time point t2 to time pointt2′. In the detection time period from the time point t2 to the timepoint t2′, the open detection circuit 2033 can determine whether theconnection between the operation signal output pin PN and the powerswitch SW3 is open according to whether the highest level of theoperation signal output pin PN (i.e., the highest level of the operationsignal GATE) achieves a predetermined level during the detection timeperiod, or according to whether the level variation (i.e., a slope ofthe level of the operation signal GATE versus time) of the operationsignal output pin PN is too fast during the detection time period, oraccording to whether the time length for the level of the operationsignal output pin PN to achieve the predetermined level is too shortduring the detection time period. If the open detection circuit 2033determines the connection between the operation signal output pin PN andthe power switch SW3 is open, in one embodiment, the open detectionsignal Fault is correspondingly switched from the low level to the highlevel.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of signal waveforms of the operationsignal GATE in different conditions according to the present invention.Referring to the bold solid line (exaggerated) shown in FIG. 6, in theopen detection procedure between time point t2 to time point t4, whenthe power switch control circuit 203 does not include the inrush currentprotection circuit 2035, and when the connection is normal, the chargesaccumulated at the operation signal output pin PN may cause the level ofthe operation signal output pin PN to rise above the threshold voltageof the power switch SW3 so that the power switch SW3 may be turned ON bymistake, and the inrush current may damage other circuits or devicesinside the power switch control circuit 203 if the predetermined currentIp is too high. On the other hand, referring to the bold dashed lineshown in FIG. 6, in the open detection procedure between time point t2to time point t4, if the power switch control circuit 203 includes theinrush current protection circuit 2035, the level of the operationsignal output pin PN (i.e., the level of the signal GATE) is clamped notto exceed an upper limit UL, so the power switch SW3 will not beerroneously turned ON, and the inrush current is prevented from flowingto and damaging other circuits or devices inside the power switchcontrol circuit 203. As shown in the figure, the upper limit UL may beset to a level lower than a threshold voltage of the power switch SW3,to avoid turning ON the power switch SW3 in the open detectionprocedure. However, if the predetermined current Ip, the detection timepoint, and the reference level Vref are set properly, the inrush currentwill not be too high to turn ON the power switch SW3 or to damage thepower switch control circuit 203, and in this case the inrush currentprotection circuit 2035 may be omitted.

When the open detection signal Fault indicates that the connectionbetween the operation signal output pin PN and the power switch SW3 isopen, a safety procedure may be triggered, for example to shut down thecircuitry, to limit the electrical power, or simply to issue an alert,etc.

The present invention has been described in considerable detail withreference to certain preferred embodiments thereof. It should beunderstood that the description is for illustrative purpose, not forlimiting the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in this artcan readily conceive variations and modifications within the spirit ofthe present invention. For example, a device or circuit which does notsubstantially influence the primary function of a signal can be insertedbetween any two devices or circuits in the shown embodiments, so theterm “couple” should include direct and indirect connections. Foranother example, the meanings of the high level and the low level, andthe meanings of the rising edge and the falling edge of a signal maybeinterchangeable with corresponding amendments in the circuitry. Foranother example, the NMOS transistor and the PMOS transistor may beinterchangeable with corresponding amendments in the circuitry. Foranother example, it is not limited for the resistor or the voltagedivider circuit to be formed by passive devices, but it may be formed byother devices or circuits, such as transistors. For another example,when a circuit retrieves an external signal into the circuit (forexample but not limited to the input signal), the signal may be subjectto a voltage-to-current conversion, a current-to-voltage conversion, ora ratio conversion, etc. before it is processed by the circuit, andtherefore, “performing an operation according to a certain signal” inthe present invention, is not limited to performing an operationaccording to the signal itself, but can be performing an operationaccording to a signal which is converted from the signal. For anotherexample, it is not limited for each of the embodiments describedhereinbefore to be used alone; under the spirit of the presentinvention, two or more of the embodiments described hereinbefore can beused in combination. For example, two or more of the embodiments can beused together, or, a part of one embodiment can be used to replace acorresponding part of another embodiment. For example, the inrushcurrent protection circuit 2035 can be applied to the embodiments shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, etc. In view of the foregoing, the spirit of thepresent invention should cover all such and other modifications andvariations, which should be interpreted to fall within the scope of thefollowing claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power switch control circuit, configured tooperably generate an operation signal at an operation signal output pintherein according to an input signal, so as to control a power switch,the power switch control circuit comprising: a current injectioncircuit, which is connected to the operation signal output pin, and isconfigured to operably provide a predetermined current to the operationsignal output pin according to an enable signal; an open detectioncircuit, which is coupled to the current injection circuit, and isconfigured to operably determine whether a connection between theoperation signal output pin and the power switch is open according to alevel of the operation signal output pin at a detection time point orduring a detection time period, or a level variation of the operationsignal output pin during a detection time period, and to generate anopen detection signal accordingly; and an inrush current protectioncircuit, which is coupled to the operation signal output pin, and isconfigured to operably clamp a level of the operation signal output pinwhen the predetermined current is provided to the operation signaloutput pin, such that the level does not exceed an upper limit; whereinthe input signal is transmitted to the operation signal output pinthrough a driver circuit which includes a half-bridge circuit, whereinthe half-bridge circuit includes: an upper switch and a lower switchconnected at a common node; an upper buffer, which is configured tooperably control the upper switch according to the input signal; and alower buffer, which is configured to operably control the lower switchaccording to the input signal, wherein the upper switch and the lowerswitch are transistors with opposite conductive types, or aretransistors with a same conductive type wherein one and only one of theupper buffer and the lower buffer is an inverter buffer; wherein theinrush current protection circuit includes: the lower switch; and aswitch, which is electrically connected between a gate and a currentinflow terminal of the lower switch, and is controlled by the enablesignal; wherein when the enable signal is at an enable state, the lowerswitch forms a diode clamper circuit.
 2. The power switch controlcircuit of claim 1, wherein the open detection circuit includes: acomparison circuit, which is coupled to the operation signal output pin,and is configured to operably compare the level of the operation signaloutput pin with a reference level, so as to generate a comparison signalindicating whether the connection between the operation signal outputpin and the power switch is open; and a latch circuit, which is coupledto the comparison circuit, and is configured to operably latch thecomparison signal to generate the open detection signal.
 3. The powerswitch control circuit of claim 1, wherein the open detection circuitdetermines whether a connection between the operation signal output pinand the power switch is open and generates the open detection signalaccording to the level of the operation signal output pin at thedetection time point, a highest level of the operation signal output pinduring the detection time period, the level variation of the operationsignal output pin during the detection time period, or a time length forthe level of the operation signal output pin to achieve a predeterminedlevel.
 4. The power switch control circuit of claim 1, wherein theoperation signal is a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, and theoperation signal is at a low level at the detection time point or duringthe detection time period.